GREEN BAY, Wisc. (CBS/WFRV) - Every year tens of thousands of people run the marathon. And for one Wisconsin man, this year's race is a big milestone.
A 62, running isn't just a hobby for Henry Rueden, not a life-style, but an obsession. He says, "For the last several years, I've been averaging 60 or 70 a year."
That's 60-70 marathons he runs, every year. He says, "I've been very fortunate to still be out here yet, and count every day as a blessing."
Since he ran a first marathon at 38, the full-time accountant, spends most of his free time running. He says, "You just keep looking for new ones then all of sudden you make a 100, then it gets to 200, and then after awhile, you lose track to a degree."
Reuden doesn't run to break records, though along the way he's collected a lot of honors. The reporter asks, "Since you've done so many, have you ever forgotten you've done one?" Rueden says, "The early years, they didn't even give medals out, you didn't' even get a shirt unless you finished."
His running has taken him around the world. He's done a marathon on every continent from every providence in Canada to Australia, to South America, the Czech Republic, Africa, London, and China.
Sunday's Cell Com won't be just any other marathon for Reuden, when he crosses the finish line it will be his 800th marathon. That's more than 21,000 miles he's raced in just 24 years. He says, "Time don't get any faster as you get older."
While his pace has slowed down over the years, he doesn't plan on slowing down anytime soon.
Reuden is running a marathon in Fargo on Saturday before he runs his milestone marathon in Green Bay on Sunday.